Refill diverter for electronic cigarette

Abstract

A refillable atomizing assembly with a liquid reservoir for an electronic cigarette. The assembly includes a housing and a mouthpiece that is removably engaged to the housing. A liquid reservoir is disposed within the housing, and separated from the aerosol outlet by an outlet chamber. The liquid reservoir is refillable by removing the mouthpiece and dispensing the liquid into the outlet chamber. An atomizing chamber is adjacent to the reservoir and opposite of the outlet chamber. An aerosol conduit connects the atomizing chamber to the outlet chamber. An isolation member is disposed within the outlet chamber. A liquid passage through the isolation member allows the liquid placed into the outlet chamber to flow into the reservoir. A shield portion of the isolation member is located about the aerosol conduit to prevent liquid from entering. An aerosol vent through the shield portion enables the flow of the aerosol therethrough.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An atomizing assembly with a liquid reservoir, which is refillable, for an electronic cigarette, comprising:
 a housing; 
 a mouthpiece with an aerosol outlet formed therethrough, removably engaged with said housing; 
 a liquid reservoir disposed within said housing, and separated from said aerosol outlet by an outlet chamber, said liquid reservoir refillable by removing said mouthpiece and dispensing liquid into said outlet chamber; 
 an atomizing chamber, with an atomizer therein, adjacent to said liquid reservoir and opposite of said outlet chamber; 
 an aerosol conduit, which passes through said liquid reservoir, from said atomizing chamber to said outlet chamber, and which communicates an aerosol of liquid generated by said atomizer in response to a negative pressure induced at said mouthpiece; 
 an isolation member disposed within said outlet chamber and arranged to substantially seal said liquid reservoir from said outlet chamber; 
 a liquid passage through said isolation member, which allows liquid within said outlet chamber to flow into said liquid reservoir; 
 a shield portion of said isolation member located about said aerosol conduit to prevent liquid from entering there into, and 
 an aerosol vent through a periphery of said shield portion, which enables flow of said aerosol therethrough, and further oriented to prevent liquid from entering said aerosol conduit. 
 
     
     
       2. The assembly of  claim 1 , and wherein:
 said housing is cylindrical and provides an outer enclosure of said liquid reservoir and said outlet chamber, and wherein 
 said mouthpiece is formed from a polymeric material that engages said housing. 
 
     
     
       3. The assembly of  claim 1 , and wherein:
 said liquid reservoir has an end open to said outlet chamber, thereby enabling liquid to enter. 
 
     
     
       4. The assembly of  claim 3 , and wherein:
 said liquid reservoir is filled with an absorbent material to contain liquid. 
 
     
     
       5. The assembly of  claim 1 , and wherein:
 said aerosol conduit is a tube, which defines an inner wall of said liquid reservoir. 
 
     
     
       6. The assembly of  claim 1 , and wherein:
 said isolation member is formed from a resilient polymeric material. 
 
     
     
       7. The assembly of  claim 1 , and wherein:
 said isolation member engages an inside surface of said housing. 
 
     
     
       8. The assembly of  claim 1 , and wherein:
 said liquid passage is aligned along an axis substantially parallel with said aerosol conduit. 
 
     
     
       9. The assembly of  claim 1 , and wherein:
 liquid flows thorough said liquid passage by gravity when said aerosol conduit is oriented in a substantially vertical direction. 
 
     
     
       10. The assembly of  claim 1 , and wherein:
 said aerosol conduit includes an extension that extends further into said outlet chamber than said liquid reservoir, and wherein; 
 said shield portion accommodates said extension. 
 
     
     
       11. The assembly of  claim 1 , and wherein:
 said shield portion is configured as a cap over an end of said aerosol conduit. 
 
     
     
       12. The assembly of  claim 1 , and wherein:
 said aerosol vent is aligned along an axis substantially perpendicular to said aerosol conduit. 
 
     
     
       13. The assembly of  claim 1 , and wherein:
 said aerosol vent is disposed radially away from an open end of said aerosol conduit. 
 
     
     
       14. An atomizing assembly with a liquid reservoir, which is refillable, for an electronic cigarette, comprising:
 a housing; 
 a mouthpiece with an aerosol outlet formed therethrough, removably engaged with said housing; 
 a liquid reservoir disposed within said housing, and separated from said aerosol outlet by an outlet chamber, said liquid reservoir refillable by removing said mouthpiece and dispensing liquid into said outlet chamber; 
 an atomizing chamber, with an atomizer therein, adjacent to said liquid reservoir and opposite of said outlet chamber; 
 an aerosol conduit, which passes through said liquid reservoir, from said atomizing chamber to said outlet chamber, and which communicates an aerosol of liquid generated by said atomizer in response to a negative pressure induced at said mouthpiece; 
 an isolation member disposed within said outlet chamber and arranged to substantially seal said liquid reservoir from said outlet chamber; 
 a shield portion of said isolation member located about said aerosol conduit to prevent liquid from entering there into, and 
 a passage through said isolation member, which allows liquid within said outlet chamber to flow into said liquid reservoir, and enables the flow of said aerosol therethrough, and which is further oriented to prevent liquid from entering said aerosol conduit. 
 
     
     
       15. The assembly of  claim 14 , and wherein:
 said housing is cylindrical and provides an outer enclosure of said liquid reservoir and said outlet chamber, and wherein 
 said mouthpiece is formed from a polymeric material that engages said housing. 
 
     
     
       16. The assembly of  claim 14 , and wherein:
 liquid reservoir has an end open to said outlet chamber, thereby enabling liquid to enter. 
 
     
     
       17. The assembly of  claim 16 , and wherein:
 said liquid reservoir is filled with an absorbent material to contain liquid. 
 
     
     
       18. The assembly of  claim 14 , and wherein:
 said aerosol conduit is a tube, which defines an inner wall of said liquid reservoir. 
 
     
     
       19. The assembly of  claim 14 , and wherein:
 said isolation member is formed from a resilient polymeric material. 
 
     
     
       20. The assembly of  claim 14 , and wherein:
 said isolation member engages an inside surface of said housing. 
 
     
     
       21. The assembly of  claim 14 , and wherein:
 said passage is aligned along an axis substantially parallel with said aerosol conduit. 
 
     
     
       22. The assembly of  claim 14 , and wherein:
 liquid flows thorough said passage by gravity when said aerosol conduit is oriented in a substantially vertical direction. 
 
     
     
       23. The assembly of  claim 14 , and wherein:
 said aerosol conduit includes an extension that extends further into said outlet chamber than said liquid reservoir, and wherein; 
 said shield portion accommodates said extension. 
 
     
     
       24. The assembly of  claim 14 , and wherein:
 said shield portion is configured as a cap over an end of said aerosol conduit. 
 
     
     
       25. The assembly of  claim 14 , and wherein:
 said passage comprise a vent portion, which is aligned along an axis substantially perpendicular to said aerosol conduit. 
 
     
     
       26. The assembly of  claim 14 , and wherein:
 said passage is disposed radially away from an open end of said aerosol conduit.